Oak Ridge Today

Anderson committee approves third-party review of law director’s office

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Legal Services Advisory Committee Meeting

Resident Larry Ownby, right, addresses the Legal Services Advisory Committee on Monday.

 

Note: This story was updated at 11:57 a.m.

CLINTON—An Anderson County committee on Monday agreed to conduct a third-party review of the county law director’s office. But the move didn’t appear to be enough to satisfy those who have sought to have the law director removed from office.

The review was unanimously approved by the Legal Services Advisory Committee on a voice vote after hearing from a handful of residents, including the man who has helped lead the ouster effort. Some of those who spoke continued to raise concerns about Anderson County Law Director Jay Yeager, including some charges that appeared to be new, while others said they supported Yeager and have not been persuaded by the arguments or complaints against him.

The third-party review was proposed by Anderson County Commissioner Myron Iwanski.

“I’m not accusing Jay of anything,” said Iwanski, who modeled his proposal after a recent resolution to review turnover, morale, and administrative policies in the Oak Ridge Police Department. “It’s not an investigation. We’re just getting a review of practices.” [Read more…]

AC Legal Services Advisory Committee meets this evening

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The Anderson County Legal Services Advisory Committee will meet on Monday, February 23, at 5 p.m. in Room 312 of the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

This meeting will be for any other issues, not included in the ouster suit submission or its appeal, which is now before the state courts, that the public or any committee member wishes to address to the committee regarding the Anderson County Legal Services Advisory Committee and its responsibilities.

Inputs to the committee required written submission in advance (not less than 48 hours prior to the meeting) to allow review before the meeting, or be approved by a majority vote to be added to the agenda at the beginning of the meeting, a meeting notice said.

Issues involving the law director may be included as long as they are not already included the Ouster court case documents, the notice said.

Water line leak in Anderson County located, repaired

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Terry Frank

Terry Frank

The major water line leak that might have affected some customers in north Anderson County has been located and repaired, but it may take a few hours for residents to see their water service return to normal, Mayor Terry Frank said Friday evening.

In a Facebook post, Frank said the leak was on a fire line that supplies a major industry, SL Tennessee.

“That is a 10-inch line—they were losing a thousand gallons a minute on that line,” Frank said.

She said water service might not return to normal until as late as midnight in some of the higher elevations of the county.

More information will be added as it becomes available.

Friday: OR Schools closed; AC Courthouse, Y-12 open at 8

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Note: This story was updated at 10:02 p.m.

Oak Ridge Schools will be closed Friday, and the Anderson County Courthouse and Y-12 National Security Complex will open at 8 a.m.

The offices of the Anderson County Clerk and Trustee will not open until 10 a.m.

“County officials still urge that Anderson County citizens stay safe and use extreme caution if citizens must be out and about,” a statement said. “County officials will continue monitoring the weather, and if it worsens earlier than anticipated on Friday, the Courthouse and other county government offices will be closed early.” [Read more…]

Updated: Thursday closings—schools, Y-12, Roane State, AC Courthouse

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Turnpike and Bus Terminal Road Snow on Feb. 18, 2015

Schools and many offices remained closed Thursday after a icy winter storm on Monday followed by this snow on Wednesday morning.

 

Note: This story was updated at 10:21 a.m. Feb. 19.

The temperature the next few days is expected to be brutally cold, and schools and some government offices and contractors have announced they’ll be closed Thursday, or for the rest of the week, because of the weather and road conditions.

Schools in Oak Ridge, Anderson County, Clinton, and Roane County will all be closed Thursday. Roane State Community College will also be closed.

Schools in Clinton and Anderson and Roane counties will also be closed Friday. The Central Office in Anderson County will be closed for the rest of the week, and the Central Office in Roane County will not report Thursday. [Read more…]

Updated: More closures, delays Wednesday as snow falls, temperatures drop

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Winter Weather Advisory

Image courtesy National Weather Service in Morristown

 

Note: This story was last updated at 12:56 p.m.

Many offices and schools will remain closed on Wednesday because of the weather and road conditions, and some will open late. The National Weather Service in Morristown has issued a winter weather advisory for snow on Wednesday and a wind chill watch for Wednesday night.

Schools in Oak Ridge and Clinton and Anderson and Roane counties will be closed again Wednesday. So will Roane State Community College campuses. Pellissippi State Community College will also be closed.

Anderson County Schools will be closed the rest of the week, officials said Wednesday, and the Central Office is closed as well.

Anderson County government offices and all courts will be closed Wednesday.

City of Oak Ridge offices will open at 9 a.m. City Hall in Rocky Top will close at noon Wednesday for deteriorating weather conditions. [Read more…]

Travel still discouraged; no serious accidents reported in Anderson

Posted at
By 2 Comments

Icy Roads in Oliver Springs

Roads remained ice-covered in Oak Ridge on Tuesday, and there was little traffic as officials urged people to not drive unless absolutely necessary. Here is a picture taken Monday of State Route 62, also known as North Illinois Avenue or East Tri County Boulevard, headed into Oliver Springs from Oak Ridge. (Photo by Marilyn Cook-Wynn)

 

Information from WYSH Radio

With ice on the roadways and temperatures not expected to get above freezing for the next couple of days, travel is still not advised.

Last night across Anderson County, no serious accidents were reported, and officials said that was due in part to people heeding their warnings to stay off the roads.

But some people may have no choice but to drive somewhere today. For those people, Clinton Police Rick Scarbrough had this piece of advice: “Drive with caution. Don’t get overconfident because just around the corner could be a solid sheet of ice. If you do have to be out, we understand, but try to avoid getting out if at all possible.” [Read more…]

Updated: Lunch with League—Law and order in Anderson County

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Dave Clark

Dave Clark

Tom Marshall

Tom Marshall

Note: This Lunch with the League has been canceled due to weather.

Anderson County District Attorney Dave Clark and Public Defender Tom Marshall will be the guest speakers at Lunch with the League on Tuesday, February 17. The program will be held at noon in the Social Hall of the Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church at 809 Oak Ridge Turnpike.

There won’t be defendants, witnesses, or a jury but the prosecutor—Dave Clark—and the defender—Tom Marshall—will discuss the current status of the Anderson County criminal justice system.

The Seventh Judicial District encompasses all of Anderson County. The district attorney is responsible for the prosecution of all criminal cases on behalf of the citizens of the state. The public defender’s office represents individuals accused of crimes who cannot afford a lawyer. Both the district attorney and public defender are elected for eight-year terms. [Read more…]

OR, AC, RC schools closed Tuesday; AC Courthouse, Y-12 closed

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Oak Ridge Schools Logo

Note: This story was last updated at 9:30 p.m.

Oak Ridge and Anderson County schools will be closed on Tuesday because of the weather, officials said.

The Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton will also be closed, and the Anderson County Commission meeting has been canceled. All courts will be closed.

The Commission meeting will be rescheduled for 6 p.m. Thursday, February 26. [Read more…]

AC task force studying animal shelter to meet Tuesday

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

The new task force set up to consider the possibility of an animal shelter in Anderson County will meet on Tuesday.

The meeting has been scheduled for 3 p.m. Tuesday, February 17, in Room 118A at the Anderson County Courthouse in Clinton.

See previous story about the task force and its work here.

Anderson County to consider setting up its own animal shelter

Posted at
By 8 Comments

Oak Ridge Animal Shelter

The Oak Ridge Animal Shelter on Belgrade Road is pictured above.

The Anderson County Operations Committee has endorsed setting up a task force to examine the possibility of an animal shelter in the county, a press release said.

That should be good news for Oak Ridge, where there has been at least some concern about the housing of animals from outside Oak Ridge at the city’s animal shelter and the costs of doing so.

“Anderson County has had a strong, long-standing relationship with the Oak Ridge Animal Shelter over the years and continues that solid, working partnership,” Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank said in a press release. “However, as their shelter has moved more towards the housing and adoption of animals, the available contracted space for county animals has diminished. [Read more…]

AC Senior Center about to become reality

Posted at
By Leave a Comment

Information from WYSH Radio

The Anderson County Office on Aging and the Council on Aging have found a location to open up an expanded Office on Aging and create a full-blown Senior Center serving Clinton and Anderson County.

The new location will be in the old Food Stamp building on Charles Seivers Boulevard, just west of the intersection of Clinch Avenue and Seivers. [Read more…]